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Catcher shuffle center of Orioles' roster moves

Catcher shuffle center of Orioles' roster moves

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Snyder's RBI single 0:39

5/12/13: Chris Snyder smacks a single to left field that allows J.J. Hardy to score in the second inning

By Brittany Ghiroli
/
MLB.com |

NEW YORK-- The Orioles made a flurry of roster moves following Saturday's game, including shuffling their catching staff in designating Taylor Teagarden for assignment, purchasing Chris Snyder's contract and recalling Steve Clevenger from Triple-A.

"These decisions are always tough decisions, and there's a premium on roster spots," executive vice president Dan Duquette said of the move with Teagarden, who has 10 days to be traded, released or clear waivers. "It's hard to carry more than three catchers on the roster."

Teagarden was informed of the move Saturday night, and he has enough service time that he can reject an outright assignment if he does clear waivers. The Orioles will also explore a trade, and Duquette said he hoped to reach a resolution by the end of the week. Teagarden hit .167/.180/.300 with two homers and five RBIs in 23 games.

"Tea was well respected," manager Buck Showalter said of Teagarden, Matt Wieters' backup the past two seasons and who Showalter knew from their time in Texas together. "It's tough. Especially the timing of it, but can't say everything always feels good. I'm sure there was some good reasons."

Snyder had it in his contract that he would be part of September's roster expansion, while Clevenger is someone the Orioles want to take a look at and could compete for the backup job next spring.

The 32-year-old Snyder batted .118/.250/.118 in six games for the Orioles earlier this season, and the organization likes his defense. In 712 career Major League games with Arizona, Pittsburgh, Houston and the Orioles, Snyder owns a .224/.328/.383 line.

Clevenger, 27, is a left-handed hitter acquired in the deal with the Cubs for starter Scott Feldman in July. In 79 Major League games with Chicago, Clevenger batted .199/.262/.275 with one homer and 16 RBIs. A Baltimore native, Clevenger batted .327/.405/.453 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 43 Minor League games this season.

"Right now, it's about helping us win games, it's not about looking around next year," Showalter said Sunday of the roster additions. "Who knows what the future holds where Tea is considered, where Snyder is considered and where Clevenger is considered. [We'll] be able to give Matt a blow here and there."

The Orioles also designated Triple-A outfielder Eric Thames for assignment and purchased the contract of Double-A Bowie right-handed pitcher Eric Beaulac, and then put him on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his right hip.

Why the move? It behooves teams at this point in the year to have as many guys on the DL as possible since they become potential postseason roster spots.

Thames, 26, was acquired from Seattle on June 30 in exchange for Minor League infielder Ty Kelly. He appeared in 97 games in the Minors and batted .285/.369/.436 with 10 homers and 49 RBIs this season.

Beaulac appeared in 12 games for Class A Frederick and Bowie, going 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA. The 26-year-old has a career mark of 21-21 with a 3.40 ERA in 117 games (52 starts) in six Minor League seasons in the Mets and Orioles organizations.